Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 548

Yeon-wi’s face was unusually serious as he read the letter.

Jeagal Mun-Ho said,

“Deputy Yeon must have a lot on his mind.”

“……”

“I heard that you’ve contacted the Tang Clan Head separately. He will probably head to Sichuan within the next day or two.”

“I see.”

Yeon-wi, having taken his eyes off the letter, stroked his chin.

“By any chance, has there been any separate contact from Guangdong?”

“I was just about to mention that to the Bonggong members. The situation in Guangdong has stabilized, and I heard that the Uijeong Army [Righteous Army] will be returning soon.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked, puzzled,

“But why the Uijeong Army?”

“No, it was just a passing thought.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho knew. Yeon-wi had something else in mind.

However, Jeagal Mun-Ho didn’t press further. Yeon-wi wasn’t one to immediately share his thoughts. He would speak when he had fully organized them.

“The good news is that the Baekbyeong Divine Army’s Makwon has decided to join us.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Deputy Yeon has done another great thing.”

Yeon-wi gave a wry smile.

“I’m relieved that he seems to be doing his part well. However…”

Yeon-wi trailed off.

Jeagal Mun-Ho could guess what he wanted to say. Perhaps all parents with children felt the same way.

“I think we should hold a meeting to share information.”

“Let’s do that.”

Yeon-wi looked up at the sky.

‘That rascal.’

It was a relief that Yeon Ho-Jeong was being recognized after being dispatched to the Mukryong Unit [Black Dragon Unit].

But that also meant he was constantly being thrown into dangerous situations. He trusted his son’s abilities, but he couldn’t help but worry.

He also knew. Whether things worked out or not, worrying wouldn’t change the outcome.

But that’s just how people are. He would probably worry the same way even when Yeon Ho-Jeong reached his age.

‘He must be safe.’

Yeon-wi’s sigh rode the wind towards the west.

“……”

Tang Gwan’s face remained expressionless as he read the letter.

Tang Sang-A asked,

“Who is the letter from? It doesn’t seem like it’s from the family.”

Tang Gwan folded the letter and replied,

“That brat.”

“Deputy Yeon?”

Tang Sang-A tilted her head.

“What did Deputy Yeon do this time…”

“It’s just a personal matter.”

Tang Gwan looked to his right. There, Tang Yang-Seon was calmly drinking tea with a composed expression.

For a moment, Tang Gwan’s eyes flashed with a cold light before calming down.

“Yang-Seon.”

“Yes, Father.”

His voice was much more composed than before.

Tang Gwan nodded and said,

“You’ve certainly improved. Where did that awkwardness go? Your aura is very solid now.”

Proudness flickered across Tang Yang-Seon’s face.

He knew that it was rare for his father, Tang Gwan, to give such praise. If his father said this, it meant he had truly improved a lot.

“Thank you.”

“Is your grandfather doing well?”

“I’ve only seen him twice since you came to the Martial Alliance, Father.”

“Twice.”

“Yes. The last time was three months ago. He’s still very healthy.”

“I see…”

Tang Yang-Seon asked in a slightly lowered voice,

“Have you not contacted him separately?”

“No.”

It was a curt reply.

The sharpness of the reply was so firm that Tang Yang-Seon flinched without realizing it.

Tang Sang-A said,

“How about contacting him once?”

Tang Yang-Seon looked at her with somewhat stiff eyes. To say such a thing in front of their father, he thought the atmosphere would become tense again.

However, Tang Gwan’s reaction was unexpected.

“There’s no need to contact him.”

“But still…”

“Since the Martial Alliance is half-closed anyway, why don’t you go back to the family and look after the household? You can also visit your grandfather.”

Surprise flickered across Tang Sang-A and Tang Yang-Seon’s faces.

“Are you going back to the main family?”

Tang Gwan looked at Tang Sang-A and said,

“Even if the Alliance is half-closed, there shouldn’t be no one from the main family. I’ll be gone for a while, so you stay at the Alliance.”

“M-Me?”

“You’re still lacking.”

Tang Gwan took a sip of tea and continued,

“But there’s no perfect person in the world. Everyone is clumsy and grows by clashing with the world with their ignorance and recklessness. I was like that, and so was your grandfather.”

“……”

“Although you’re still lacking, your martial arts have reached a level where I can be at ease. The important thing is insight, and unlike martial arts, insight grows through thorough experience.”

Tang Gwan glanced at the window.

“I’ll talk to the Yeon Clan Head separately, so learn a lot under him.”

Tang Sang-A was flustered.

“C-Can I do it well?”

“Think of it as learning by watching. The Jianghu [Martial World] is rough. It’s not a world where you can survive just by being strong in martial arts. Take this opportunity to grow sufficiently.”

Tang Sang-A felt her father’s sincerity.

She bowed her head.

“Since you say so, Father, I will do my best.”

“Yes, you should.”

Tang Gwan got up from his seat.

“Yang-Seon.”

“Yes, Father.”

Tang Yang-Seon was inwardly very surprised.

He knew how much his father had rejected his sister. But what about now? Wasn’t their relationship much softer than how he was treated?

He was so surprised that he didn’t even feel jealous. Tang Yang-Seon couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“You’ve had a long journey, but you’ll have to go back to Sichuan with me.”

Tang Yang-Seon bowed his head.

“Looking around the Martial Alliance is enough.”

“I see.”

Tang Gwan nodded.

“We’ll depart tomorrow morning. Get some rest.”

“Yes, Father.”

Tang Gwan headed for the door.

Tang Sang-A asked,

“Where are you going?”

Tang Gwan replied casually,

“Shouldn’t I buy a drink for the person who’s going to take care of you, you good-for-nothing?”

* * *

“Hoo.”

Yeon-wi smiled and brought a large bowl.

“You’ve waited long.”

The bowl on the table contained a rather appetizing-looking meat soup.

Tang Gwan frowned.

“Do you cook now too?”

Yeon-wi said as he sat down,

“You can cook too, can’t you, Clan Head Tang? When you travel the Jianghu alone, you tend to find various foods while camping out. I learned it then.”

“It’s good that you know so many things.”

“It seems you’re a novice when it comes to cooking.”

“The main family has a lot of money. The attendants took care of everything.”

“Haha, I see.”

Tang Gwan chuckled and picked up a bottle of liquor.

“Baijiu [a type of Chinese liquor].”

“I know. That’s why I’m surprised. You said Baijiu is tasteless, so why did you bring it?”

“For someone accustomed to cheap tastes, Baijiu is better than high-quality liquor, isn’t it?”

“Hahaha!”

Yeon-wi laughed and held out his cup. Tang Gwan filled his cup.

The two clinked their cups and emptied them in one go.

Tang Gwan frowned.

“It’s terribly bitter.”

“So, are you leaving right away tomorrow?”

“Are you a fortune teller?”

“Do I not know Clan Head Tang?”

“It’s good that you know so many things.”

Yeon-wi silently refilled Tang Gwan’s cup.

Tang Gwan, staring at his cup, asked casually,

“How does it feel?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m curious how it feels for someone who has succeeded in raising their children.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Clan Head Tang knows well, doesn’t he? In this day and age, it’s rare to find a child as good as Sang-A.”

“Sang-A… Yes, a filial daughter who didn’t give up on her incompetent father until the end.”

It was an uncharacteristic remark from Tang Gwan.

“Sang-A grew up well on her own. Except for when she was young, I didn’t properly care for Sang-A. In other words, I didn’t succeed in raising my child. My child grew up well on her own.”

The corners of Tang Gwan’s mouth turned up. It was a self-deprecating smile.

“But the son I cherished and pushed, he completely went astray, didn’t he?”

“……”

“Frankly, it was shocking. I knew his arrogance was excessive, but that arrogance was ultimately based on his faith and affection for the main family. He always thought the main family was the best in the Central Plains.”

“There’s no one in the world of martial arts who doesn’t know that the Sichuan Tang Clan is the best.”

“The best is the best. The most vicious and the most terrifying family.”

“……”

Yeon-wi couldn’t speak.

Tang Gwan fiddled with his cup with both hands. He must be feeling truly devastated.

“I mean, I never imagined my son would be so foolish as to be swayed by an enemy spy.”

“……”

“And perhaps, not only Yang-Seon but also some of the key figures in the main family might have been on the same boat as Yang-Seon, which makes my head spin.”

It was a rare sight. Yeon-wi thought it was understandable.

Tang Gwan’s faith in the Tang Clan was close to religious. Perhaps most of the Tang Clan members were like that.

The Tang Clan was a closed family, incomparable to most martial families in the world. They interacted with the world, but they were united by the pride that the Tang family was the best.

That belief was absolute, creating a fierce disposition that would pounce on anything even slightly related to the family.

The current Sichuan Tang Clan was no exaggeration to call it a kingdom.

Tang Gwan was the king of that kingdom, and as a king, he was shocked.

“It’s my fault.”

Tang Gwan said with a bitter smile.

“Before instilling in him the idea that the main family was the best, I should have taught him how harsh and rough the world is. Before telling him that the main family’s martial arts were the best, I should have made him aware of how difficult they are to master.”

“……”

“I taught everything backward. Even when my son, who had grown up like that, caused all sorts of trouble, I justified it by saying that his arrogance was a necessary trait for the next clan head.”

Tang Gwan emptied his cup.

Yeon-wi silently refilled his cup.

“I think I’m a capable clan head.”

“You are a great clan head.”

“A capable clan head, but not a capable father.”

Yeon-wi, who had been quietly watching him, emptied his cup and said,

“There are situations where no matter how much you regret, it’s useless. But there are also other cases. If you regret and try to fix it, I believe there are cases where you can definitely improve and develop.”

“……”

“And I think the relationship between parents and children is clearly the latter.”

“The main family is different.”

“That may be so. But it may not be. You haven’t tried it yet, have you?”

“……”

“Both Clan Head Tang and I are first-time parents. The first time is always difficult, and you always face unexpected situations.”

Yeon-wi refilled Tang Gwan’s empty cup again.

“Clan Head Tang is a good person.”

“I don’t want to hear empty words.”

“If the child of a good person like Clan Head Tang, the child must have inherited the good aspects of their parents. Even if they went astray for a while, if you guide them properly, wouldn’t they improve enough?”

“That’s a hopeful statement.”

“Aren’t we always dreaming of hope?”

Tang Gwan stared at his cup silently before taking a spoonful of the meat soup.

“It’s bland.”

“Shall I add some more salt?”

“It’s fine.”

After taking a few spoonfuls of the meat soup, Tang Gwan lowered his head silently.

Yeon-wi, who was quietly watching Tang Gwan, emptied and refilled his own cup repeatedly.

Tang Gwan couldn’t raise his head for a long time.